Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Windows - 1998
Also released on: Mac
Description of Jazz Jackrabbit 2
One of the best side-scrolling arcade games ever made, bar none.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is a superb 2D platformer, a sequel to Epic Megagames' earlier shareware classic Jazz Jackrabbit. In addition to smoothly animated cartoons, funny antics, and varied levels, JJ2 boasts a charming plot that is told via comic-book style intro movie (missing from this CD-rip, though).
The big bad guy from the original game, doctor Devan Shell the mad turtle scientist, is back with another nefarious plot to kill our hero. This time, he came up with an ingenious idea: go back in time to kill Jazz's parents, thus preventing him from being born in the first place. In order to complete the time machine, he (strangely enough) stole a wedding ring that Jazz gave to his beloved. Your job, of course, is to get it back.
The gameplay remains the same as Jazz Jackrabbit, but with a much-improved engine and better everything. You can play at any of the three difficulty levels as either Jazz or Spaz, Jazz's more devious brother. Both rabbits have their own special moves and abilities: Jazz can use his ears to glide down slowly and can jump higher, while Spaz is faster and can pull off an awesome karate kick and a two-phase jump. By combining a jump and duck, you can stomp open crates that contain power-ups and bonus items. You can also switch between weapons using the number keys.
The star of Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is the level design. Levels are designed so that there are areas that only Jazz or Spaz can get to. This helps increase the game's replay value, but also makes cooperative play much more interesting. The levels range from underwater tunnels, a thick jungle, a huge medieval castle, and a weird alien landscape that looks like a scene out of Louis Carroll's books.
On the downside, Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is far too easy. Perhaps this is Epic's response to many players' criticism that the first game was too hard. But they definitely tilted the scale too far to the other extreme: most enemies are easy to beat even with your plain vanilla laser gun. Even if you are a novice arcade gamer, you will likely find most levels cakewalk until you encounter one of the few "bosses" toward the end. Fortunately, Epic includes a number of bonus features that help make up for the game's short length.
First, there is the "Jazz Creation Station," a nifty utility that allows you to create your own levels. While it is neither intuitive nor easy to use, it does help extend the longevity to anyone patient enough to learn how to use it. Second, multiplayer support is outstanding for a side-scrolling game. Up to 32 players can play together over a LAN or the Internet, and you can also play split screen on the same PC with up to four players. There are several game modes including "death match" style, racing, treasure hunt, capture the flag, and cooperative mode for the normal levels.
If you like 2D platformers, you will most likely love this underrated shareware underdogs. It may not be as funny as Earthworm Jim series, or offers as exotic locales seen in Pitfall: A Mayan Adventure, but as platformers go, it is very, very good. Two thumbs up!
Review By HOTUD
External links
Captures and Snapshots
Comments and reviews
SpaceChimp 2023-11-23 0 point
The game was added and have been sold on GOG since October 2017. It was never removed from the GOG store and can still be bought there to this day. They are not going to remove this game anytime soon.
Mister Gamer 2018-05-01 0 point
Very goo little platform game.
Type JJGOD whilst playing for immunity, you'll see a protective bubble around you to indicate cheat is active.
Angry 2018-02-15 0 point
Take games that GOG won't let you give away off the damn site. I don't come here to buy games. If I wanted to buy a game I'd have gone to GOG. ;(
Josesiux 2017-08-24 1 point
Tengo aún el disco de 1.4 sin embargo, ya no se puede descargar,
SALUDOS Y ABRAZOS
Son hermosos recuerdos con mis hijos hasta el momento
Krausz 2015-09-15 0 point
The best way to run this in OS X would be to make a Wine Wrapper, for DOS games definitely Boxer is the way to go.
Cheers
bunnylovinggrl 2015-04-23 1 point Mac version
BEST GAME EVER! My version had a program where you can make your own levels, insert bad guys and bosses. It was awesome. I wish I had that version for my new computer.
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Buy Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is available for a small price on the following website, and is no longer abandonware. GOG.com provides the best release and does not include DRM, please buy from them! You can read our online store guide.
Game Extras and Resources
Some of these file may not be included in the game stores. For Jazz Jackrabbit 2, we have the following files:
2 MB (Windows)
1 MB (Mac)
Other Releases
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 was also released on the following systems:
Mac
- Year: 1999
- Publisher: Logicware, Inc.
- Developer: Epic MegaGames, Inc.
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